Congress takes an interest...

[Kirsteena]

Not sure if this is really off-topic or on, but feel free to move to wherever.

News article I found on the BBC website - found it interesting.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6065534.stm - easily translated into FFXI from WoW.

[Treth]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

ok that doesnt make any sense... r they saying they might make actual taxes on online video game transactions or am i just retarded?

[Vair]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

Wow, if I read right it looks like there might be a slight possibility of in-game trade transactions such as auction house and bazaar could be slapped with a real life tax. I'd quit playing right there and then if that were the case.

U.S Govt- Stay out of FFXI. XD

[Kirsteena]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

I suspect it will be more to try to find ways to tax IGE etc more... and they can't impliement something in the US that would affect a game - so many foreign players who would be taxed unfairly.

[Vair]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

I suspect it will be more to try to find ways to tax IGE etc more... and they can't impliement something in the US that would affect a game - so many foreign players who would be taxed unfairly.

This is true, but when you put it like that taxing I.G.E might actually be great in the War on G.S. ((Pun on the "U.S "War on Terror")) Ha ha ((Cough))

Anyways, maybe it isn't such a bad thing when it's looked at in that context.

[Mog]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

Wow. This administration is getting better every day.

I swear. One of these days, I'm moving to England....

[Kirsteena]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

Yeah but we get the lap dog - Blair. Trust me - no better.

[Vair]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

Well, when you think about it, the U.S Government's sudden interest in MMOs isn't really all that surprising. When the government has the "right" to wiretap and monitor online conversastions it's only common sense that they would be wary of an online chatting system that they really have no control over. Our current administration is drunk with power and they feel as if they need to control and keep a close eye on any form communication that's out there.

So, and just go with me on this, if the U.S Government did start taxing the actual online auction house transactions then everyone in the U.S would stop playing, and I'm damn sure they would. They can't really tax people living outside of the country becuase 1.) It isn't their game and 2.) It isn't based in the U.S.

This whole thing is just another attempt by the Bush Administration to control somthing they can't, and if they can't they'll shut it down.

Am I going off-topic?

P.S- " 'There is a concern that the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) might step forward with regulations that start taxing transactions that occur within virtual economies,' said Mr Saxton. 'This, I believe, would be a mistake.' "

The word I'm concerned with in this paragraph is Within.

[Mog]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

/Vysey buys Vermillion Cloak off the auction house.
/Vysey gets billed one hundred dollars on his account.

o.O

[Caspian]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

Isn't selling gil considered illegal in America? Something to do with SE claiming ownership of all ingame items. So wouldn't that make them taxing ingame items like taxing people for growing weed, or even selling it?
Besides:

The JEC statement said: "Clearly, virtual economies represent an area where technology has outpaced the law. The goal of the forthcoming JEC study is to help lawmakers understand the issues involved and head off any premature attempt to impose a tax on virtual economies."

This is also fairly old news. I'm sure I've heard about this months ago, they may just be rehashing old crap.

[Mog]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

Isn't selling gil considered illegal in America? Something to do with SE claiming ownership of all ingame items. So wouldn't that make them taxing ingame items like taxing people for growing weed, or even selling it?

Yes, it's illegal. Selling and buying gil are illegal economic activities that aren't counted in the GNP (Gross National Product). The fact that SE claims ownership of all ingame items means that people can't transact outside of the game. As for transactions within the game, it makes no sense at all to tax them.

I mean, in a literal sense, the more you buy, the higher net worth your character is.....however the fact that it is (or should be) illegal to transact gil and characters makes it entirely pointless to tax inside of the game.

This is one brilliant administration. Let me tell ya. (Maybe I'll move to France instead....)

[devindh]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

This makes a tiny bit of sense for games like Second Life where people actually make money playing the game and the currecny has an actual cash value.

What is completely retarded is the thought of getting a real money tax for a transaction involving gil and items (obvisouly).

But imgine the alternative, tax us in gil and send it to the us gov. lol

[Jarre]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

The bottom line is they can't tsax you for in game revenue if you do not gain any RL money from it, if they did, people would stop playing and the whole MMO industry would instantly crash. Its another stupid idea from an insane government trying to exploit there people for more money.

Its just like taxing you for breathing air.

[Raydeus]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

And Gilseller Capone goes down not because he was murdering and doing all the illegal stuff you can think of.

No! He goes down because he didn't share some of his profits with the IRS.


Yep, that really makes people wanna go live the american dream doesn't it?

[Taskmage]

Re: Congress takes an interest...

Its just like taxing you for breathing air.

They already charge you for being born, tax you for dying, and tax your for owning land. How is a tax for air any different?